Buhari rules out amnesty for bandits, insurgents
By Modupe Shodeinde
President Muhammadu Buhari has ruled out the possibility of negotiating with bandits, and granting amnesty to bandits, terrorists and insurgents in the country.
The President on Thursday while declaring open a joint security meeting of Northern State Governors’ Forum, Northern Traditional Rulers Council and delegation from the federal government in Kaduna State, said his administration would continue to deal decisively with insurgents, bandits, kidnappers who had made life difficult for Nigerians.
Buhari also asked Nigerians to stop the ethnic profiling of criminals, adding that criminals should be treated as criminals.
The President represented by his Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari, said security challenges confronting the nation had slowed down the emancipation of Nigerians from poverty and economic deprivation.
He disclosed that he had already directed heads of security agencies to develop plans to end criminality in the country.
According to him, his government would continue to deal with insurgents, bandits and kidnappers.
“I must appreciate the efforts of the 19 Northern States Governors’ Forum for their contribution towards national growth and development, especially in this challenging period in our nation’s being where certain fundamental corporate existence needs to be frankly deliberated upon and actionable resolutions reached,” the president said.
“This meeting is coming at a time when the nation is making steady progress in addressing the many challenges impeding developmental and progress. We are providing critical infrastructure such as roads, railways, airports among others which are critical to economic prosperity of our people as well as opening up economic opportunities for our citizens to pursue legitimate aspirations that grow the economy.
“At the same time, we are confronting the various dimensions of security challenges that continue to slow down the emancipation of our people from poverty and economic deprivation. The Government shall continue to deal with insurgents, bandits, kidnappers and other criminals who constitute a threat to innocent citizens across the country.
“Criminals are criminals and should be dealt with accordingly, without resorting to ethnic profiling. I have already tasked the new Service Chiefs to devise new strategies that will end this ugly situation where the lives of our people continue to be threatened by hoodlums and criminals.
“I expect that at this meeting, your Forum will also discuss and devise ways of building stronger collaboration with the security architecture and the people in defeating criminality across the region and the nation at large.
“It is pertinent to note that the increased realization of our security, democracy and development indices are inextricably linked. Democracy and rule of law promote stability and in turn reinforce the power to assert freedom and economic progress of our people.”
